Chan Moly Sam

Sam Chan Moly (b. 28 Oct 1953, Phnom Penh, Cambodia) is a Cambodian researcher, teacher, and performance artist based in the USA.

After studying at the Royal University of Fine Arts under dance master Chheng Phon and ballet mistress Chea Samy, Chan Moly was living in the Philippines with husband Sam Sam-Ang when the Khmer Rouge took over Cambodia. Unable to come back, they went to the United States. In 1986, they both formed the Apsara Ensemble, the first Cambodian performing-arts ensemble in America. The group was joined by another Khmer classical dancer, Sam-Oeun Tes, ​‘Rady’ (b. 21 Nov 1951, Phnom Penh).

Her book Khmer Court Dance: A Comprehensive Study of Movements, Gestures, and Postures As Applied Techniques (Khmer Studies Institute, 1987) has been a reference for numerous researchers.

In collaboration with Sam Sam-Ang (b. 8 Jan 1950, Pursat Province, Cambodia), Chan Moly founded in 1988 the Sam-Ang Sam Ensemble, a music and performing arts platform which was recognized as NEA National Heritage Fellow in 1998.

From left to right, Chan Moly Sam, Sam Ouen Tes, and Sam-Ang Sam (1998).

Works

• Khmer Court Dance: A Comprehensive Study of Movements, Gestures, and Postures As Applied Techniques. Newington, CT, USA: Khmer Studies Institute, 1987. ISBN 978 – 0941785013. 
• [with Sam Sam-Ang] Khmer Folk Dance. Newington, CT: Khmer Studies Institute, 1987.
• [Art Director with Sam Sam-Ang] Music of Cambodia, New York: World Music Institute, 1989 [audio cassette by the Sam-Ang Sam Ensemble].
• [Art Director with Sam Sam-Ang] Cambodian Mohori, New York: World Music Institute, 1991 [audio cassette by the Sam-Ang Sam Ensemble].
• [as Dance Director] Khmer Court Dance (videotape). Sam-Ang Sam & Naom Bishop, producers; John Bishop, video director; Chan Moly Sam, dance director; Dr. Paul Cravath, narrator. Khmer Studies Institute, Newington, CT. 1992. (Featuring Somaly Hay, Chan Moly Sam, Malene Sam, Sophiline Shapiro, Nareine Sokhon and Sam-Ouen Tes, dancers).